Mayors Highlight Urban-Rural Synergies for Sustainable Land Management at COP16
Cities and Countryside: A United Front Against Land degradation
Mayors from around the globe gathered at COP16, the UN Climate Change Conference, to highlight the crucial role of urban-rural partnerships in combating desertification, land degradation, and drought.
Engineer Waleed Al-Akrich, Deputy for Projects of the Riyadh Municipality, representing Mayor dr. Faisal Al-Hadlaziz Al-Hayyar, set the tone for the forum, emphasizing the need for “transformative policies, knowledge sharing, and partnerships that transcend borders” to secure a sustainable future.
The forum, moderated by Carlos Correa, former Mayor of Montevideo, showcased innovative solutions from diverse urban centers. Uğur İbrahim Altay, Mayor of Konya and President of UCLG, shared turkey’s success in restoring the dried Meke Lake and advancing water conservation efforts. Noraini Roslan, representing Selangor State, Malaysia, highlighted strategies balancing urbanization wiht sustainability, including mangrove rehabilitation and wetland protection. Mohamed Sefiani, Mayor of Chefchaouen, Morocco, illustrated the importance of urban-rural linkages in local reforestation and ecosystem restoration efforts to combat climate change.
bridging the Urban-Rural Divide: A Roadmap for Sustainable Land Use
Building on these discussions, the release of the Primer on Urban-Rural Linkages and Land, developed by UNCCD and UN-habitat, offers a roadmap for fostering equitable and sustainable interactions between urban and rural communities.
The Primer underscores the critical role of urban-rural linkages in sustaining both vibrant urban centers and thriving rural communities. However, it also acknowledges the challenges these connections face, including fragmented governance, resource exploitation, and the interconnected threats of land degradation and climate change.
“We convene today as stewards of our communities, championing a future that aligns the social and ecological functions of land with the new urban agenda,” stated Anacláudia Rossbach, Executive Director of UN-Habitat, who announced the Primer via video during the forum.
A Call to action: Shaping a Resilient Future
With over 4.4 billion people living in urban areas today, a number expected to rise to 68% by 2050, the need for sustainable land management practices is more urgent than ever. The discussions at COP16 and the launch of the Primer reaffirm the commitment to stronger urban-rural linkages and a collaborative approach to tackling these challenges.
By aligning policies and actions across scales, the forum highlighted the critical role of local governments in shaping a resilient future where cities and countryside work together to ensure a sustainable future for all.
Cities and Countryside: A United Front Against Land Degradation
Mayors from around the globe gathered at COP16, the UN Climate Change Conference, to highlight the crucial role of urban-rural partnerships in combating desertification, land degradation, and drought.
Engineer Waleed Al-Akrich, Deputy for Projects of the riyadh Municipality, representing Mayor dr.Faisal Al-Hadlaziz al-Hayyar, set the tone for the forum, emphasizing the need for ”transformative policies, knowledge sharing, and partnerships that transcend borders” to secure a lasting future.
The forum, moderated by Carlos Correa, former Mayor of Montevideo, showcased innovative solutions from diverse urban centers. Uğur İbrahim Altay, Mayor of Konya and President of UCLG, shared Turkey’s success in restoring the dried Meke Lake and advancing water conservation efforts. Noraini Roslan, representing Selangor State, Malaysia, highlighted strategies balancing urbanization with sustainability, including mangrove rehabilitation and wetland protection.Mohamed Sefiani, Mayor of Chefchaouen, Morocco, illustrated the importance of urban-rural linkages in local reforestation and ecosystem restoration efforts to combat climate change.
Bridging the Urban-Rural Divide: A Roadmap for Sustainable Land Use
Building on these discussions, the release of the Primer on Urban-Rural Linkages and Land, developed by UNCCD and UN-Habitat, offers a roadmap for fostering equitable and sustainable interactions between urban and rural communities.
The Primer underscores the critical role of urban-rural linkages in sustaining both vibrant urban centers and thriving rural communities. Tho,it also acknowledges the challenges these connections face,including fragmented governance,resource exploitation,and the interconnected threats of land degradation and climate change.
“We convene today as stewards of our communities, championing a future that aligns the social and ecological functions of land with the new urban agenda,” stated Anacláudia Rossbach, Executive Director of UN-Habitat, who announced the Primer via video during the forum.
A Call to Action: Shaping a Resilient Future
With over 4.4 billion people living in urban areas today, a number expected to rise to 68% by 2050, the need for sustainable land management practices is more urgent than ever. The discussions at COP16 and the launch of the Primer reaffirm the commitment to stronger urban-rural linkages and a collaborative approach to tackling these challenges.
By aligning policies and actions across scales,the forum highlighted the critical role of local governments in shaping a resilient future where cities and the countryside work together to ensure a sustainable future for all.